Messi Equals Raúl’s Champions League Record

Lionel Messi has equalled Raúl González as the top scorer in UEFA Champions League history with his 71st goal in FC Barcelona’s game against AFC Ajax.

The forward scored his 71st goal in the competition proper, group stage to final, in the 76th minute (his second of the evening) to match the record of former Real Madrid CF striker Raúl. Messi’s tally is comfortably the most for a single club.

While it took Raúl 142 UEFA Champions League outings to run up his 71 goals, Messi’s appearance against Ajax was his 90th in the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo, who started and ended Madrid’s win against Liverpool FC on 70 goals, has featured in the tournament 107 times.

Messi’s strike also ensured he joined Raúl and Ronaldo as the joint-top European Cup scorer. Whereas Messi and Raúl’s goals all came in the competition proper, Ronaldo found the net for Manchester United FC in the third qualifying round back in 2005. In terms of UEFA club competitions, Raúl remains out in front with 77 goals, four ahead of Ronaldo and five clear of Messi.